U.S. patent number 11,060,228 [Application Number 17/128,614] was granted by the patent office on 2021-07-13 for washing machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The grantee listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Bo-Kyun Kim, Dong-Won Kim, Baek Gyu Kwon, Do Yun Lee, Geon Ho Lee.
United States Patent |
11,060,228 |
Kwon , et al. |
July 13, 2021 |
Washing machine
Abstract
A washing machine including a plurality of washers may include a
fixing bracket coupled to a front of a first housing in which a
first tub is disposed and a front of a second housing in which a
second tub is disposed, to prevent the first housing and the second
housing from being separated from each other.
Inventors: |
Kwon; Baek Gyu (Suwon-si,
KR), Kim; Dong-Won (Suwon-si, KR), Lee; Do
Yun (Yongin-si, KR), Kim; Bo-Kyun (Suwon-si,
KR), Lee; Geon Ho (Incheon, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si |
N/A |
KR |
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Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
(Suwon-si, KR)
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Family
ID: |
1000005673529 |
Appl.
No.: |
17/128,614 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2020 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20210108353 A1 |
Apr 15, 2021 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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15827148 |
Nov 30, 2017 |
10870942 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 23, 2016 [KR] |
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10-2016-0178591 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F
37/26 (20130101); D06F 21/08 (20130101); D06F
21/04 (20130101); D06F 37/20 (20130101); D06F
39/12 (20130101); D06F 31/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
D06F
37/20 (20060101); D06F 39/12 (20060101); D06F
21/04 (20060101); D06F 37/26 (20060101); D06F
21/08 (20060101); D06F 31/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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204690361 |
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Oct 2015 |
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CN |
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105624993 |
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Jun 2016 |
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CN |
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105937122 |
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Sep 2016 |
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CN |
|
106149276 |
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Nov 2016 |
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CN |
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106149276 |
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Nov 2016 |
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CN |
|
1550756 |
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Jul 2005 |
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EP |
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10-2008-0096301 |
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Oct 2008 |
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KR |
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10-1387483 |
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Oct 2008 |
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KR |
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10-1387483 |
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Apr 2014 |
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KR |
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2016/155801 |
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Oct 2016 |
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WO |
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2016/173565 |
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Nov 2016 |
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WO |
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Other References
Extended European Search Report dated Mar. 27, 2018 in European
Patent Application No. 17204438.0. cited by applicant .
International Search Report dated Mar. 13, 2018 in International
Patent Application No. PCT/KR2017/014012. cited by applicant .
European Communication Under Rule 71(3) dated Nov. 15, 2018 in
European Patent Application No. 17204438.0. cited by applicant
.
Extended European Search Report dated May 2, 2019 in European
Patent Application No. 19164593.6. cited by applicant .
Chinese Office Action dated Nov. 6, 2019 in Chinese Patent
Application No. 201711381043.9. cited by applicant .
Indian Office Action dated Jul. 29, 2020 in Indian Patent
Application No. 201917029071. cited by applicant .
Chinese Office Action dated Jul. 15, 2020 in Chinese Patent
Application No. 201711381043.9. cited by applicant .
U.S. Office Action dated Jan. 24, 2020 in U.S. Appl. No.
15/827,148. cited by applicant .
U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Aug. 19, 2020 in U.S. Appl. No.
15/827,148. cited by applicant .
U.S. Appl. No. 15/827,148, filed Nov. 30, 2017, Baek Gyu Kwon,
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. cited by applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Barr; Michael E
Assistant Examiner: Riggleman; Jason P
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Staas & Halsey LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/827,148 filed on Nov. 30, 2017, which
claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No.
10-2016-0178591, filed on Dec. 23, 2016 in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A clothes treating system comprising: a first housing; a second
housing disposed on a top of the first housing; a front cover
covering at least a portion of a front surface of the first housing
and at least a portion of a front surface of the second housing;
and a fixing bracket configured to be connected to the first
housing and the second housing to couple the first housing to the
second housing, and configured to be connected to an upper portion
of the front cover.
2. The clothes treating system of claim 1, further comprising a
first tub disposed in the first housing; and a second tub disposed
in the second housing.
3. The clothes treating system of claim 2, wherein the first tub
includes a first opening in a front of the first tub, the first
opening configured to receive laundry into the first tub, and the
second tub includes a second opening in a top of the second tub,
the second opening configured to receive laundry into the second
tub.
4. The clothes treating system of claim 2, wherein the second
housing further comprises: a lower frame supporting the second tub,
and an upper frame disposed on the lower frame.
5. The clothes treating system of claim 4, wherein the second
housing further comprises a side cover covering a side surface of
the upper frame and a side surface of the lower frame.
6. The clothes treating system of claim 4, further comprising a
suspending device supporting the second tub on the lower frame.
7. The clothes treating system of claim 6, wherein the lower frame
surrounds the second tub, and comprises a first supporter
supporting the suspending device.
8. The clothes treating system of claim 7, wherein the second tub
comprises a second supporter on which the suspending device is
mounted, and the suspending device connects the first supporter to
the second supporter.
9. The clothes treating system of claim 1, further comprising: a
guide protrusion which protrudes upward from a top of the first
housing; and a guide protrusion insertion portion disposed in a
bottom of the second housing to receive the guide protrusion.
10. The clothes treating system of claim 1, further comprising: a
guide protrusion which protrudes downward from the second housing;
and a guide protrusion insertion portion disposed in a top of the
first housing to receive the guide protrusion.
11. The clothes treating system of claim 1, wherein the fixing
bracket is directly coupled to the upper portion of the front
cover.
12. The clothes treating system of claim 1, wherein the fixing
bracket comprises a guide protrusion configured to guide the front
cover into a coupling position, and the front cover comprises a
guide hole configured to receive the guide protrusion of the fixing
bracket.
13. The clothes treating system of claim 1, wherein the fixing
bracket comprises a first coupler to which the front cover is
fixed, and the front cover comprises a second coupler which is
fixed to the fixing bracket.
14. A clothes treating system comprising: a first housing housing a
first tub; a second housing disposed adjacent to the first housing
and housing a second tub; a front cover covering at least a portion
of a front surface of the first housing and at least a portion of a
front surface of the second housing; and a fixing bracket
configured to be connected to a front of the first housing and a
front of the second housing to couple the first housing to the
second housing, and configured to be connected to an upper portion
of the front cover.
15. The clothes treating system of claim 14, wherein the fixing
bracket is disposed inside the front cover.
16. The clothes treating system of claim 15, wherein an upper
portion of the fixing bracket is directly coupled to the upper
portion of the front cover.
17. The clothes treating system of claim 14, further comprising: a
spring supporting the first tub to the first housing, wherein the
spring connects an outer surface of the first tub to a top of the
first housing.
18. The clothes treating system of claim 14, wherein a height of a
top end of the front cover is higher than a height of a top end of
the first housing.
19. The clothes treating system of claim 15, wherein the fixing
bracket is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a
length corresponding to a lateral width of the first housing and
the second housing and a thickness corresponding to a thickness of
the front cover, and has an open rear surface and an open bottom
surface.
20. A clothes treating system comprising: a front side; a top side;
a bottom side; a first housing having a front opening facing the
front side of the clothes treating system; a first tub disposed in
the first housing and having a first tub opening corresponding to
the front opening of the first housing; a second housing above and
coupled to the first housing such that the first housing is
adjacent to the second housing; a second tub disposed in the second
housing and having a second tub opening; a front cover covering at
least a portion of a front surface of the first housing and at
least a portion of a front surface of the second housing; and a
fixing bracket configured to be connected to a front side of the
first housing and a front side of the second housing to couple the
first housing to the second housing, and configured to be connected
to an upper portion of the front cover.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Field
The following description relates to a washing machine, and more
particularly, to a washing machine including a plurality of
washers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a washing machine is an apparatus which washes laundry
by rotating a cylindrical rotating tub in which the laundry is
accommodated. Washing machines include a washing machine which
washes laundry by horizontally disposing a rotating tub such that
laundry is lifted upward along an inner circumference of the
rotating tub and falls down when the rotating tub rotates on a
horizontal axis and a washing machine in which a rotating tub
including a pulsator is vertically disposed and which washes
laundry using water currents generated by the pulsator when the
rotating tub rotates on a perpendicular axis.
The washing machine including the horizontally disposed rotating
tub is referred to as a front-loading washing machine due to a
laundry insertion hole formed at a front thereof. The washing
machine including the vertically disposed rotating tub is referred
to as a top-loading washing machine due to a laundry insertion hole
formed at a top thereof.
Meanwhile, because a general washing machine has a single washer, a
user should operate the washing machine two or more times when the
user wants to separate and wash laundry. Accordingly, even though
there is a relatively small amount of laundry, the user should
operate the washing machine for a long time.
SUMMARY
Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a
washing machine including a plurality of washers.
It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a washing
machine including an improved coupling structure between a first
housing in which a first tub is disposed and a second housing in
which a second tub is disposed.
Additional aspects of the present disclosure will be set forth in
part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious
from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present
disclosure.
In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a washing
machine includes a first housing in which a first tub is disposed
and which includes an open top, a second housing in which a second
tub is disposed and which includes an open bottom, and a fixing
bracket coupled to a front of the first housing and a front of the
second housing. Here, the first housing includes a pair of first
side panels which form side surfaces of the first housing. The
second housing includes a pair of second side panels which form
side surfaces of the second housing. The fixing bracket connects
the pair of first side panels to the pair of second side
panels.
The first tub may include an opening for inserting laundry, at a
front thereof, and the second tub may include an opening for
inserting laundry, at a top thereof.
The second housing may include a lower frame to which the second
tub is supported and an upper frame disposed on the lower
frame.
The second housing may further include a side cover provided to
cover a side surface of the upper frame and a side surface of the
lower frame.
The washing machine may further include a suspending device which
supports the second tub toward the lower frame.
The lower frame may include a first supporter formed in a shape in
which a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of side walls are
connected to surround a front, a rear, and sides of the second tub
and provided to hold the suspending device at a top end of each
corner.
The second tub may include a second supporter on which the
suspending device is mountable, at a bottom of an outer surface,
and the suspending device may be configured to connect the first
supporter to the second supporter.
The washing machine may further include a guide protrusion which
protrudes upward from the pair of first side panels and a guide
protrusion insertion portion disposed in bottoms of the pair of
second side panels to insert the guide protrusion thereinto.
The washing machine may further include a guide protrusion which
protrudes downward from the pair of second side panels and a guide
protrusion insertion portion disposed in tops of the pair of first
side panels to insert the guide protrusion thereinto.
The washing machine may further include a front cover provided to
cover at least part of a front surface of the first housing and at
least part of a front surface of the second housing.
The fixing bracket may include a guide protrusion configured to
guide a coupling position of the front cover, and the front cover
may include a guide hole configured to be coupled to the guide
protrusion of the fixing bracket.
The fixing bracket may include a first coupler to which the front
cover is fixable, and the front cover may include a second coupler
which is fixable to the fixing bracket.
In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a washing
machine includes a first housing, a second housing disposed above
the first housing, and a front cover provided to cover at least
part of a front surface of the first housing and at least part of a
front surface of the second housing.
The washing machine may further include a fixing bracket disposed
inside the front cover and configured to couple the first housing
to the second housing not to be separated from each other.
The fixing bracket may be coupled to a front of the first housing
and a front of the second housing.
The washing machine may further include a tub supported to the
first housing and a spring which supports the tub to the first
housing. Here, the spring may be configured to connect an outer
surface of the tub to a top of the first housing.
The front cover may be disposed to allow a height of a top end of
the front cover is higher than a height of a top end of the first
housing.
The fixing bracket may include a rectangular shape having a length
corresponding to lateral widths of the first housing and the second
housing and a thickness corresponding to a thickness of the front
cover and may be configured to allow a rear surface and a bottom
surface to be open.
The washing machine may further include a tub supported to the
second housing, a drum disposed to be rotatable in the tub, and a
driving motor disposed outside a bottom of the tub and configured
to rotate the drum.
The fixing bracket may include a fire-resistant material and may be
disposed to allow a height of a top end of the fixing bracket to be
equal to or higher than a height of a top end of the driving
motor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and/or other aspects of the present disclosure will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating some components of the
washing machine shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the washing machine shown in
FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a second
housing of the washing machine shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating a part of a first housing
of the washing machine shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view illustrating parts of a fixing bracket
and a front cover of the washing machine shown in FIG. 2; and
FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a coupling position of the
fixing bracket and the front cover of the washing machine shown in
FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments disclosed in the specification and components shown in
the drawings are merely examples of the present disclosure and
various modifications capable of replacing the embodiments and
drawings of the specification may be made at the time of filing the
present application.
Also, throughout the drawings of the present specification, like
reference numerals or symbols refer to components or elements
configured to perform substantially identical functions.
Also, the terms used herein are to explain the embodiments but are
not intended to limit and/or define the present disclosure.
Singular forms, unless defined otherwise in context, include plural
forms. Throughout the specification, the terms "comprise", "have",
and the like are used herein to specify the presence of stated
features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components or
combinations thereof but do not preclude the presence or addition
of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations,
elements, components, or combinations thereof.
Also, even though the terms including ordinals such as "first",
"second", and the like may be used for describing various
components, the components will not be limited by the terms and the
terms are used only for distinguishing one element from others. For
example, without departing from the scope of the present
disclosure, a first component may be referred to as a second
component, and similarly, the second component may be referred to
as the first component. The term "and/or" includes any and all
combinations or one of a plurality of associated listed items.
Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with
reference to the attached drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an exploded view
illustrating some components of the washing machine shown in FIG.
1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the washing machine shown in
FIG. 1.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a washing machine 1 may include a
front-loading type first washer which includes a laundry insertion
hole formed at a front of a first washing space 115 and a
top-loading type second washer which includes a laundry insertion
hole formed at a top of a second washing space 215.
The washing machine 1 may include a first drum 110 in which the
first washing space 115 is formed and a first tub 120 which
accommodates the first drum 110 and stores washing water or rinsing
water to be used in a washing operation or a rinsing operation. The
first drum 110 and the first tub 120 may have a cylindrical shape
with at least partially opened one surface and may be disposed to
allow the opened one surface to face frontward. In detail, the
first drum 110 may include an opening 114 for inserting laundry at
a front thereof, and the first tub 120 may include an opening 123
for inserting laundry at a front thereof.
The washing machine 1 may include a first housing 130 in which the
first drum 110 and the first tub 120 are disposed. In detail, the
first housing 130 with an open top may include a pair of first side
panels 131 which form side surfaces of the first housing 130, a
first rear panel 134 which forms a rear surface, and a bottom panel
132 which forms a bottom surface. The first side panels 131 and the
first rear panel 134 may be integrated.
Also, the washing machine 1 may include a spring 151 and a damper
150, capable of supporting the first tub 120 to the first housing
130. The damper 150 may connect an outer surface of the first tub
120 to the bottom panel 132 to support the first tub 120 at a
bottom thereof, and the spring 151 may connect the outer surface of
the first tub 120 to spring couplers 133 provided at a top of the
first side panels 131 to support the first tub 120 at a top
thereof. The spring 151 and the damper 150 may buffer vibrations,
noises, and shocks, which occur due to a movement of the first tub
120.
Installation positions of the spring 151 and the damper 150 are not
limited to the top of the first side panels 131 and the bottom
panel 132, and one surface of the first tub 120 and another part of
the first housing 130 may be connected to support the first tub
120.
The washing machine 1 may include a first driving motor 140
disposed in the rear of the first tub 120 to rotate the first drum
110. A first driving shaft 141 for transmitting power of the first
driving motor 140 may be connected to a rear surface of the first
drum 110.
A plurality of through holes 111 for a flow of washing water may be
formed at a circumference of the first drum 110. A plurality of
lifters 113 may be installed at an inner circumferential surface of
the first drum 110 to allow laundry to move upward and fall down
when the first drum 110 rotates. A first balancer 112 may be
mounted on a front of the first drum 110 to allow the first drum
110 to stably rotate during high-speed spinning.
The first driving shaft 141 may be disposed between the first drum
110 and the first driving motor 140. One end of the first driving
shaft 141 is connected to a rear panel of the first drum 110, and
the other end of the first driving shaft 141 is extended outward
from a rear wall of the first tub 120. When the first driving motor
140 drives the first driving shaft 141, the first drum 110
connected to the first driving shaft 141 rotates around the first
driving shaft 141.
A bearing housing 142 may be installed at the rear wall of the
first tub 120 to rotatably support the first driving shaft 141. The
bearing housing 142 may be formed of an aluminum alloy and may be
inserted into the rear wall of the first tub 120 when the first tub
120 is injection-molded. Bearings 143 are installed between the
bearing housing 142 and the first driving shaft 141 to allow the
first driving shaft 141 to smoothly rotate.
The washing machine 1 may include a function of washing with water
at high temperature. To obtain the water at high temperature, a
heater 180 capable of heating washing water or rinsing water
accommodated in the first tub 120 may be disposed at a bottom
surface of the first tub 120.
The washing machine 1 may include a first drain pump 170 disposed
below the first tub 120 to discharge water in the first tub 120
outward from the washing machine 1, a first connecting hose 171
which connects a first drain hole 173 of the first tub 120 to the
first drain pump 170 to allow the water in the first tub 120 to
flow into the first drain pump 170, a circulating hose 174 which
connects the first drain pump 170 to the first tub 120 to circulate
the water which flows into the first drain pump 170 through the
first tub 120, and a first drain hose 172 which guides water pumped
by the first drain pump 170 to the outside of the washing machine
1.
The washing machine 1 may include a front cover 40 at which a first
insertion hole 41 for inserting laundry into the first washing
space 115 is disposed, and a first door 160 for opening and closing
the first insertion hole 41 may be coupled to the front cover
40.
The first door 160 may be provided corresponding to the first
insertion hole 41 and may be provided to be pivotable with respect
to the front cover 40. The first door 160 may include a first door
frame 161, a first door cover 162, and door glass 163.
The first door frame 161 has an approximately annular shape as
illustrated, but may have an approximately quadrangular shape. The
first door cover 162 and the door glass 163 may be formed of
transparent materials to allow an inside of the first drum 110 to
be seen from the outside of the washing machine 1 even when the
first door 160 closes the first insertion hole 41. The door glass
163 may be disposed to convexly protrude from the first door frame
161 toward the inside of the first drum 110. Through the
configuration, the door glass 163 may be inserted into the first
insertion hole 41 when the first door 160 is closed.
A first hinge (not shown) is provided near the first insertion hole
41 and coupled to a first hinge coupler (not shown) formed on one
side of the first door frame 161 to allow the first door 160 to
pivot with respect to the front cover 40. A first hook 166 is
provided on the other side of the first door frame 161 and a first
hook accommodating portion 42 is provided at the front cover 40
corresponding to the first hook 166 such that the first door 160
may remain in a state of closing the first insertion hole 41.
To insert laundry into the first washing space 115 even when the
first door 160 is closed, the first door 160 may include an
auxiliary laundry insertion hole 167 and an auxiliary door 164 for
opening and closing the auxiliary laundry insertion hole 167. The
auxiliary door 164 may be pivotably mounted on the first door cover
162.
To insert laundry into the washing machine 1 through the auxiliary
laundry insertion hole 167 of the first door 160, it is necessary
to allow the laundry to pass through the door glass 163. For this,
the door glass 163 includes a glass through hole 168. As an
alternative, it is possible to configure door glass not to be
disposed in the rear of the auxiliary laundry insertion hole 167 by
recessing a top of the door glass.
The first door 160 may include a connection guide 165 to connect
the auxiliary laundry insertion hole 167 of the first door 160 to
the glass through hole 168 of the door glass 163. The connection
guide 165 may have a pipe shape with both ends open and a hollow
center.
In detail, one end of the connection guide 165 is connected to the
auxiliary laundry insertion hole 167, and the other end is
connected to the glass through hole 168. In the embodiment, the
connection guide 165 may be tilted downward from a front to a rear.
That is, the one end of the connection guide 165 connected to the
auxiliary laundry insertion hole 167 may be at a position higher
than that of the other end thereof. Through the configuration, a
user may easily insert laundry into the first drum 110 through the
auxiliary laundry insertion hole 167.
The first door 160 has been described as including the auxiliary
door 164 in the embodiment but is not limited thereto. The first
door 160 may be configured without an auxiliary laundry insertion
hole, an auxiliary door, a connection guide, and the like.
The washing machine 1 may include a diaphragm 121 disposed between
the first insertion hole 41 of the front cover 40 and the opening
123 of the first tub 120. The diaphragm 121 may form a path from
the first insertion hole 41 to the opening 114 of the first drum
110 and reduce vibrations transferred to the front cover 40 during
rotation of the first drum 110. Also, a part of the diaphragm 121
may be disposed between the first door 160 and the front cover 40
to prevent washing water in the first tub 120 from leaking outward
from the washing machine 1.
The washing machine 1 may include a second drum 210 in which the
second washing space 215 is formed and a second tub 220 which
accommodates the second drum 210 and stores washing water or
rinsing water to be used in a washing operation or a rinsing
operation. The second drum 210 and the second tub 220 may have a
cylindrical shape with at least one partially opened surface and
may be disposed to allow the at least one partially opened surface
to face upward.
The washing machine 1 may include a second housing 230 in which the
second drum 210 and the second tub 220 are disposed and which
includes an open bottom. In detail, the second housing 230 may
include a lower frame 231 which includes a top and an open bottom
and supports the second tub 220 and an upper frame 232 which
includes a second insertion hole 234 for inserting laundry into the
second washing space 215 and is mounted above the lower frame 231.
Also, the second housing 230 may include side covers 233 which form
exteriors of a left surface and a right surface.
The washing machine 1 may include a second door 260 disposed at the
second housing 230 to open and close the second insertion hole 234.
The second door 260 may be provided corresponding to the second
insertion hole 234 and may be provided to be pivotable with respect
to the upper frame 232. The second door 260 may include a second
door frame 261 and a second door cover 262. The second door cover
262 may be formed of a transparent material to allow the second tub
220 and the second drum 210 to be seen from the outside of the
washing machine 1 even when the second door 260 closes the second
insertion hole 234.
To allow the second door 260 to pivot with respect to the upper
frame 232, second hinges (not shown) are provided at both left and
right sides of the second door frame 261 and coupled to second
hinge couplers (not shown) formed around the second insertion hole
234. A latch accommodating portion 263 is provided at a front of
the second door frame 261 and a latch device (not shown) is
provided at the upper frame 232 corresponding to the latch
accommodating portion 263 of the second door frame 261 such that
the second door 260 may remain in a state of closing the second
insertion hole 234.
The second drum 210 may be provided to have a cylindrical shape
with an open top and be disposed to be rotatable in the second tub
220. A plurality of second through holes 211 for a flow of washing
water may be formed at side surfaces and a bottom surface of the
second drum 210. A second balancer 212 may be mounted on a top of
the second drum 210 to allow the second drum 210 to stably rotate
during high-speed spinning. A filter 300 provided to filter out
foreign substances which may occur during washing may be attached
to an inner surface of the second drum 210.
A curve portion 213 for generating water currents may be formed at
the bottom surface of the second drum 210. Although not shown in
the drawings, the washing machine 1 may further include a pulsator
disposed in the second drum 210 to generate water currents.
The second tub 220 may have a cylindrical shape and be supported by
suspension devices 250 to the lower frame 231. In detail, the
second tub 220 may be supported by four suspension devices 250 to
be suspended from the lower frame 231. A third insertion hole 214
may be provided at a top surface of the second tub 220
corresponding to the second insertion hole 234, and a third door
280 for opening and closing the third insertion hole 214 may be
coupled thereto.
The third door 280 may include a third door frame 281 and a third
door cover 282. The third door cover 282 may be formed of a
transparent material to allow an inside of the second drum 210 to
be seen from an outside of the second tub 220 even when the third
door 280 closes the third insertion hole 214.
A third hinge (not shown) is provided near the third insertion hole
214 and coupled to a third hinge coupler (not shown) formed at one
side of the third door frame 281 to allow the third door 280 to
pivot with respect to the second tub 220. A handle 283 capable of
opening the third door 280 may be provided at the other side of the
third door frame 281, and a second hook 284 may be provided at the
handle 283. A second hook accommodating portion (not shown) is
provided at the second tub 220 corresponding to the second hook 284
such that the third door 280 may remain in a state of closing the
third insertion hole 214. When the handle 283 is pulled, the second
hook 284 may be separated from the second hook accommodating
portion and open the third door 280.
The washing machine 1 may include a second driving motor 240
disposed outside a bottom of the second tub 220 to rotate the
second drum 210. A second driving shaft 241 for transmitting power
of the second driving motor 240 may be connected to the bottom
surface of the second drum 210. One end of the second driving shaft
241 is connected to a bottom panel of the second drum 210, and the
other end of the second driving shaft 241 is extended outward from
a bottom wall of the second tub 220. When the second driving motor
240 drives the second driving shaft 241, the second drum 210
connected to the second driving shaft 241 rotates around the second
driving shaft 241.
Although not shown in the drawings, when the pulsator is disposed
at the bottom surface of the second drum 210, the washing machine 1
may further include a power switching device to simultaneously or
selectively transfer a driving force generated from the second
driving motor 240 to the second drum 210 and the pulsator.
The washing machine 1 may include a second drain pump 270 disposed
below the second tub 220 to discharge water in the second tub 220
to the outside of the washing machine 1 and a second drain hose 272
which guides the water pumped by the second drain pump 270 to the
outside of the washing machine 1. In detail, the second drain pump
270 may be mounted above the first housing 130.
A second drain hole 273 capable of draining water in the second tub
220 may be formed at a bottom surface of the second tub 220. The
second drain hole 273 and the second drain pump 270 may be
connected by a second connecting hose 271 to allow the water in the
second tub 220 to flow into the second drain pump 270.
The washing machine 1 may include a water supply device 400 capable
of supplying washing water to the first tub 120 and the second tub
220. The water supply device 400 may be disposed at the second
housing 230. In detail, the water supply device 400 may be disposed
at the upper frame 232 or may be disposed in the rear of the second
insertion hole 234.
Also, the washing machine 1 may include a detergent supply device
500 capable of supplying a detergent to the first tub 120. The
detergent supply device 500 may be disposed at the second housing
230. In detail, the detergent supply device 500 may be disposed at
the upper frame 232 or may be disposed in the front of the second
insertion hole 234.
The washing machine 1 may include a fixing bracket 30 which couples
the first housing 130 and the second housing 230 not to be
separated. The fixing bracket 30 may be coupled to a front of the
first housing 130 and a front of the second housing 230.
Also, the washing machine 1 may include a control panel 50 disposed
above the front cover 40 to operate the washing machine 1. The
control panel 50 may include an interface which receives an
operation command of the washing machine 1 from the user and a
display which displays operation information of the washing machine
1.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the second
housing of the washing machine shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is an
enlarged view illustrating a part of the first housing of the
washing machine shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view
illustrating parts of the fixing bracket and the front cover of the
washing machine shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating
a coupling position of the fixing bracket and the front cover of
the washing machine shown in FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 4, the lower frame 231 of the second housing 230
may include a first supporter 238 provided to hold the suspending
device 250. Also, the second tub 220 may include a second supporter
221 at a bottom of an outer surface thereof, on which the
suspending device 250 is mountable. The suspending device 250 may
be configured to connect the first supporter 238 of the lower frame
231 to the second supporter 221 of the second tub 220.
Because a front wall 298, a rear wall 297, and a pair of side walls
296 may be connected to surround a front, a rear, and sides of the
second tub 220 and the first supporter 238 may be provided at a top
end of each corner, the lower frame 231 may have adequate rigidity
capable of supporting the second tub 220 using four suspending
devices 250.
The upper frame 232 may include a first coupler 235 capable of
being coupled to the lower frame 231. The first coupler 235 may be
disposed at bottom ends of left and right sides of the upper frame
232. The lower frame 231 may include a second coupler 237 capable
of being coupled to the upper frame 232. The second coupler 237 may
be disposed at a position corresponding to the first coupler 235 of
the upper frame 232 of a top end of the lower frame 231.
The side cover 233 may be coupled to the upper frame 232 and the
lower frame 231 to cover a side surface of the upper frame 232 and
a side surface of the lower frame 231. The side cover 233 may
include a top end flange 293 capable of being coupled to the upper
frame 232, and the upper frame 232 may include a coupling groove
236 into which the top end flange 293 of the side cover 233 is
insertable. A fastener 239 capable of being coupled to the upper
frame 232 in the coupling groove 236 of the upper frame 232 may be
provided at the top end flange 293 of the side cover 233, and the
fastener 239 may be coupled to the upper frame 232 by using a
fastening member such as a screw and the like.
A bottom end flange 295 capable of surrounding a part of a bottom
surface of the lower frame 231 may be provided at a bottom end of
the side cover 233, and a rear end flange 294 capable of
surrounding parts of rear surfaces of the upper frame 232 and the
lower frame 231 may be provided at a rear end of the side cover
233.
After the lower frame 231 and the upper frame 232 are coupled, the
top end flange 293 of the side cover 233 may be inserted into the
coupling groove 236 of the upper frame 232, and the bottom end
flange 295 of the side cover 233 may be rotated and coupled to be
located at the bottom surface of the lower frame 231. After the
side cover 233 is coupled, the rear end flange 294 of the side
cover 233 may be fixed to the rear surfaces of the upper frame 232
and the lower frame 231 by using a fastening member such as a screw
and the like.
The lower frame 231 may generate vibrations due to the second tub
220 supported to the lower frame 231. Also, the vibrations of the
lower frame 231 may be transferred to the upper frame 232 by
coupling between the lower frame 231 and the upper frame 232.
When the lower frame 231 and the upper frame 232 are disassembled
by the vibrations and the like, the side cover 233 may prevent a
consumer from being hurt, by restraining the lower frame 231 and
the upper frame 232 from being randomly separated. Also, the side
cover 233 may simplify side surfaces of the second housing 230 by
covering left side surfaces and right side surfaces of the lower
frame 231 and the upper frame 232. When the second housing 230 is
coupled to the first housing 130, the first housing 130 and the
second housing 230 may be allowed to have unifying aesthetics.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the second housing 230 of the washing
machine 1 may be defined as including a pair of second side panels
135 which form the side surfaces of the second housing 230. That
is, a second side panel 135 of the second housing 230 may be
configured as at least parts of the side walls 296 of the lower
frame 231, side walls 299 of the upper frame 232, and the side
cover 233.
Referring to FIG. 5, the washing machine 1 may include a first
guide protrusion 290 disposed at a top end of the first housing 130
and configured to guide a mounting position of the second housing
230. In detail, the first guide protrusion 290 may be provided to
protrude upward from the pair of first side panels 131. The first
guide protrusion 290 may be formed as a separate member and be
coupled to the first side panels 131 or may be integrated with the
first side panels 131.
Referring to FIG. 4, the washing machine 1 may include a guide
protrusion insertion portion disposed below the pair of second side
panels 135 of the second housing 230 to insert the first guide
protrusion 290. In detail, a through hole 292 through which the
first guide protrusion 290 may pass may be provided at the bottom
end flange 295 of the side cover 233, which forms the second side
panel 135, and a guide protrusion accommodating portion 291 capable
of accommodating the first guide protrusion 290 may be provided at
a bottom surface of the side wall 296 of the lower frame 231, which
forms the second side panel 135.
Four first guide protrusions 290 may be disposed at each of top
ends of a left side and a right side of the first side panel 131 of
the first housing 130 and may be aligned to prevent the side
surfaces of the first housing 130 and the second housing 230 from
having a step therebetween caused by the first guide protrusions
290.
Although not shown in the drawings, a guide protrusion which guides
a mounting position of the second housing 230 may be provided to
protrude downward from the pair of the second side panels 135 of
the second housing 230, and a guide protrusion insertion portion
into which the guide protrusion is inserted may be formed above the
pair of first side panels 131 of the first housing 130.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the front cover 40 may be provided to
cover at least part of a front surface of the first housing 130 and
at least part of a front surface of the second housing 230.
Although the front cover 40 is shown as covering the entire front
surface of the first housing 130, the front cover 40 may be
provided to cover a part of the front surface of the first housing
130 and a part of the front surface of the second housing 230.
The fixing bracket 30 may be disposed in the front cover 40 and may
fix the first housing 130 to the second housing 230 in front of the
first housing 130 and the second housing 230. In detail, the fixing
bracket 30 may connect the pair of first side panels 131 of the
first housing 130 and the pair of second side panels 135 of the
second housing 230.
The fixing bracket 30 may have a length corresponding to lateral
widths of the first housing 130 and the second housing 230 and may
include a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a thickness
corresponding to a thickness of the front cover 40. The fixing
bracket 30 may be configured to have a front surface 34, a top
surface 31, a left side surface, and a right side surface. Here, a
rear surface and a bottom surface thereof are open.
The fixing bracket 30 may include a coupling flange 35 capable of
being coupled to the front of the first housing 130 and the front
of the second housing 230. In detail, the coupling flange 35 of the
fixing bracket 30 may be coupled to front ends of the pair of first
side panels 131 of the first housing 130 and front ends of the pair
of second side panels 135 of the second housing 230 by fastening
members such as screws and the like.
The fixing bracket 30 may include a second guide protrusion 32
provided at the top surface 31 of the fixing bracket 30 and capable
of guiding a coupling position of the front cover 40. The front
cover 40 may include a guide hole 43 provided at a top of the front
cover 40 and to which the second guide protrusion 32 of the fixing
bracket 30 is couplable.
Also, the fixing bracket 30 may include a third coupler 33 provided
at the front surface 34 of the fixing bracket 30 and to which the
front cover 40 is couplable. The front cover 40 may include a
fourth coupler 44 provided at the top of the front cover 40 and
corresponding to the third coupler 33 of the fixing bracket 30.
During a process of assembling the front cover 40, after the front
cover 40 is temporarily coupled to the fixing bracket 30 to allow
the second guide protrusion 32 of the fixing bracket 30 to pass
through the guide hole 43 of the front cover 40, the third coupler
33 of the fixing bracket 30 and the fourth coupler 44 of the front
cover 40 may be coupled by using a fastening member such as a screw
and the like.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7, the first tub 120 may be supported by
the spring 151 to the first housing 130. In detail, one end of the
spring 151 is coupled to a first spring coupler 133 provided on a
top of the first side panel 131 of the first housing 130, and the
other end of the spring 151 may be coupled to a second spring
coupler 122 formed on the outer surface of the first tub 120. The
spring 151 may damp down vibrations and noises of the first tub
120, but the vibrations of the first tub 120 may be transferred to
the first housing 130 by the spring 151.
Because the front cover 40 is disposed to allow a height A of a top
end to be higher than a height B of the top end of the first
housing 130 to which the spring 151 is coupled, strength for
supporting a front surface of the washing machine 1 may be provided
and vibrations of the first housing 130 and the second housing 230
may be effectively prevented from being transferred frontward.
Also, the front surface of the washing machine 1 may include only
the front cover 40 and the control panel 50 disposed at the top of
the front cover 40 to provide an aesthetic effect.
The fixing bracket 30 may be disposed to allow a height C of a top
end of the fixing bracket 30 to be equal to or higher than a height
D of a top end of the second driving motor 240 disposed outside the
bottom of the second tub 220. Because the fixing bracket 30 may
include a fire-resistant material such as a metal and the like and
be disposed above the second driving motor 240, if a fire occurs
due to the overheated second driving motor 240, it is possible to
prevent the fire from spreading toward the front cover 40 or the
control panel 50.
As is apparent from the above description, a washing machine
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a
plurality of washers to separate and wash laundry as necessary.
The washing machine may provide reinforced strength for fastening a
first housing to a second housing by using a fixing bracket fixed
to fronts of the first housing and the second housing.
The washing machine may provide stiffness for supporting a front
surface of the washing machine by using a front cover provided to
cover at least part of a front surface of the first housing and at
least part of a front surface of the second housing and may
effectively prevent vibrations of the first housing and the second
housing from being transferred frontward.
The scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the
particular embodiments described above. Various other embodiments
correctable or modifiable by one of ordinary skill in the art
within a range without departing from the essence as the technical
concept of the present disclosure defined by the claims are also
included in the scope of the present disclosure.
* * * * *